East SBV Times

Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R-Yucaipa) has announced that Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Senate Bill 1429 into law. This legislation aims to fill a funding gap for schools affected by snowstorms by allowing school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools to be reimbursed for decreases in Average Daily Attendance (ADA) due to severe winter weather.

“SB 1429 is an important step forward for our rural communities, where snowstorms can cause significant disruption to the school year,” said Senator Ochoa Bogh. “I want to thank Governor Newsom and my legislative colleagues for their support in passing this bill, which ensures that schools affected by these events won't face financial penalties for conditions outside of their control.”

Previously, under existing laws, schools could be reimbursed for ADA lost during natural disasters like fires, floods, and earthquakes. However, snowstorms were not included in the list of eligible events. SB 1429 addresses this oversight by adding snowstorms to the list of reimbursable disasters. This helps rural school districts facing harsh winter conditions maintain financial stability and continue providing quality education without interruption.

“As Board President of Rim of the World Unified School District and a proud partner in the creation of SB 1429, I could not be more thrilled to see Governor Newsom sign this bill into law,” said Jordan Zarate, Board President of Rim of the World Unified School District. “This legislation ensures that schools in our district, and across the state of California, will not face financial consequences due to unavoidable closures caused by extreme snowstorms. SB 1429 allows us to recover vital ADA funding, providing our mountainous district with the same protections offered to districts impacted by other natural disasters. Ensuring snowstorm-impacted districts like Rim receive the ADA funding they’re entitled to supports quality education for all students. I am grateful to Senator Ochoa Bogh for her leadership and commitment to ensuring our rural community is not left behind.”

The legislation is particularly crucial for school districts in rural and mountainous areas such as the Rim of the World Unified School District, which sponsored the bill. These districts often experience severe snowstorms that can force schools to close or transition to distance learning, resulting in drops in attendance that directly impact their funding. SB 1429 guarantees these schools will receive necessary financial support even when winter weather strikes.

“This bill ensures that our schools are protected from financial strain due to circumstances beyond their control, allowing them to focus on providing a safe and uninterrupted education for their students,” Senator Ochoa Bogh added. “This is a win for our schools, our students, and our entire community.”

The need for this bill arose following severe winter storms that impacted local districts last year.